More than 65,000 U.S. Bridges Labeled as ‘Structurally Deficient,’ AP Says
A recent analysis of the federal National Bridge Inventory shows that 65,605 bridges are classified as “structurally deficient” and 20,808 are “fracture critical,” the Associated Press reported.
Of the 607,380 bridges in the inventory, 7,795 are rated as structurally deficient and fracture critical, AP reported Sept. 16.
A bridge is classified as fracture critical when there are no redundant protections and could collapse if a vital component fails. A bridge is structurally deficient when it is in need of rehabilitation or replacement because at least one major component of the span has advanced deterioration, the AP reported.
Engineers have said the bridges are safe despite the classifications and that even bridges that are structurally deficient and fracture critical are not about to collapse.
Many fracture-critical bridges were erected in the 1950s to 1970s during construction of the interstate highway system and have exceeded their designed life expectancy but are still carrying traffic, according to AP.
The Interstate 5 bridge over the Skagit River in Washington State that collapsed was fracture critical.
